Areas We Serve
Areas We Serve
The People’s Firm PLLC is licensed to practice estate planning law in Michigan and the District of Columbia (D.C.). We currently help families across Michigan protect their property, finances, businesses and the people who depend on them.
Working with an estate planning attorney in Michigan involves more than preparing a basic will. A complete estate plan can determine how property passes to loved ones, who handles financial matters during incapacity and who can make important decisions when someone cannot act for themselves.
Our attorneys help clients prepare wills, trusts, powers of attorney and other estate planning documents based on their individual circumstances. We also work with business owners who need to protect business interests and plan for future ownership or management changes.
If you live anywhere in Michigan, you can contact The People’s Firm to discuss your estate planning needs. Virtual consultations are also available, making it easier to work with our attorneys without unnecessary travel.
Estate Planning Services Across Michigan
Every family brings different concerns to the estate planning process. Some parents are primarily concerned about protecting minor children. Others want to keep property within the family, prepare for incapacity or make transferring assets easier for their loved ones.
An estate planning lawyer in Michigan can look at the complete picture before recommending specific documents. Depending on your circumstances, your estate plan may include:
Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT)
Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (GRAT)
Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT)
Michigan Medicaid Planning Attorney
Advance healthcare directives and living wills
Holographic will
Formal and informal probate proceedings
Guardianship and conservatorship
Domestic asset protection trust
Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
Lifetime asset protection trusts
Rush Estate Planning (When Time Is Of The Essence)
These documents should work together rather than exist as separate pieces of paperwork. The purpose is to create a plan that reflects what you own, whom you want to protect and what should happen if you die or become unable to make decisions yourself.
Wills and Trusts for Michigan Families
Wills and trusts can serve different purposes within an estate plan. Understanding those differences is important before deciding which documents your family needs.
A will can provide instructions for distributing property, nominate a personal representative and address guardianship for minor children. However, having a will does not automatically mean an estate will avoid probate.
A trust can provide another way to hold and transfer certain assets. Depending on how it is established and funded, a trust may also help families manage property during incapacity and transfer assets outside probate.
An estate planning attorney serving Michigan families can review your assets and goals before determining whether a will, trust or combination of planning tools makes sense.
Planning for Incapacity Is Part of Estate Planning
Estate planning is often associated with what happens after death but an effective plan should also address what happens during your lifetime.
An unexpected illness, injury or loss of capacity can leave someone unable to handle financial or personal decisions. Without the appropriate documents already in place, family members may have fewer options for stepping in and managing those responsibilities.
Powers of attorney and patient advocate designations can establish who has authority to act when certain circumstances arise. These documents can be an important part of a broader Michigan estate plan.
Working with an estate planning lawyer in Michigan can help ensure these decisions are addressed before an emergency makes them urgent.
Estate Planning for Michigan Business Owners
Owning a business can make estate planning considerably more complicated.
A business owner must consider what happens to both personal assets and business interests after death or incapacity. Without advance planning, questions about ownership, management and succession can create problems for family members, partners and employees.
The People’s Firm helps Michigan business owners consider how their companies fit into their overall estate plans. Planning may address ownership interests, succession, trusts and strategies designed to protect personal and business assets.
A business should not be treated as separate from the owner’s estate plan when it represents a significant part of their wealth or family income. Limited liability company structures and lifetime asset protection trusts are two tools that can be part of that conversation.
Probate Representation Throughout Michigan
Estate planning and probate are closely related although they address different stages of the process.
Estate planning allows someone to make decisions while they are living. Probate may become necessary after death when certain property and estate matters must be handled through the court system.
A probate attorney in Michigan can help families understand their responsibilities after someone dies. Depending on the estate, the process may involve identifying assets, addressing valid creditor claims, handling required filings and distributing property to the appropriate beneficiaries or heirs.
Probate can become more complicated when someone dies without an effective estate plan. Disagreements between family members, unclear ownership and incomplete documents can create additional issues during administration. Learn more about what happens if you die without a will in Michigan.
The People’s Firm assists Michigan families with probate and estate administration while also helping clients plan ahead to reduce avoidable complications for their loved ones.
Can Estate Planning Help Avoid Probate in Michigan?
Certain estate planning strategies can keep qualifying assets outside the probate process.
A properly created and funded trust, for example, may allow assets held by the trust to pass according to its terms without going through probate. Beneficiary designations and certain forms of property ownership can also affect whether an asset becomes part of the probate estate.
However, simply creating a trust does not automatically accomplish that goal. Assets generally need to be coordinated with the estate plan for the strategy to work as intended.
An estate planning attorney in Michigan can review how property is owned and determine which planning options may help reduce unnecessary probate exposure.
Why Michigan-Specific Estate Planning Matters
Estate planning documents have significant legal consequences. Using generic forms without understanding how they work under Michigan law can create problems that may not appear until years later.
Family circumstances also matter. A plan for parents with young children may look very different from one created for a business owner, blended family or someone preparing for retirement.
Working with an estate planning lawyer who serves Michigan clients gives families an opportunity to build their documents around their actual property, relationships and long-term goals.
Estate plans should also change when life changes. Marriage, divorce, children, property purchases, business changes and the death of a beneficiary can all create reasons to review an existing plan.
Estate Planning Help Wherever You Live in Michigan
You do not have to live near a particular office to begin planning your estate with The People’s Firm.
Our attorneys work with families across Michigan and virtual consultations may be available when appropriate. This allows clients to discuss their circumstances and planning goals without location becoming an unnecessary obstacle.
Whether you are creating your first estate plan, reviewing older documents or dealing with the estate of someone who has died, The People’s Firm can help you understand the available legal options.
Speak with an estate planning attorney in Michigan to discuss your family, assets, business interests and the future you want to protect.
The People’s firm
Frequently Asked Questions
Does The People's Firm provide estate planning services throughout Michigan?
Yes. The People’s Firm works with clients throughout Michigan on wills, trusts, powers of attorney, asset protection and other estate planning matters. Virtual consultations may also be available depending on the client’s circumstances.
What does an estate planning attorney in Michigan do?
An estate planning attorney in Michigan helps clients determine how their property and affairs should be handled during incapacity and after death. This may involve preparing wills, trusts, powers of attorney, patient advocate designations and other planning documents.
Do I need an estate planning lawyer if I already have a will?
A will may be only one component of an estate plan. Depending on your circumstances, you may also need a trust, financial power of attorney, patient advocate designation or other documents. An estate planning lawyer serving clients in Michigan can review an existing will and identify issues that may still need to be addressed.
Does The People's Firm handle probate cases throughout Michigan?
Yes. The People’s Firm assists families with probate and estate administration matters. A probate attorney in Michigan can help clients understand court procedures, estate obligations and the responsibilities involved in administering an estate.
Can an estate plan help avoid probate in Michigan?
Yes, certain assets may be structured to transfer outside probate when appropriate planning methods are used. Trusts, beneficiary designations and forms of property ownership may all play a role. The correct approach depends on the client’s assets and circumstances.
What happens if someone dies without an estate plan in Michigan?
When someone dies without a valid will, property subject to probate is generally distributed according to Michigan’s intestate succession laws. This means state law, rather than the deceased person’s unwritten wishes, determines who inherits qualifying property. Read more about what happens if you die without a will in Michigan.
Can Michigan estate planning be handled through a virtual consultation?
Virtual consultations may be available for clients throughout Michigan. An attorney can discuss your circumstances, existing documents, assets and planning goals before determining the appropriate next steps. Contact us to schedule your consultation.
How often should a Michigan estate plan be reviewed?
An estate plan should be reviewed when major life or financial changes occur. Marriage, divorce, children, property purchases, business changes and deaths within the family can all affect an existing plan. Periodic reviews can also identify documents that no longer reflect your current wishes.